Truman State, Council meet to talk joint efforts

Truman State President Troy Paino sees a tale of two campuses when he stands at the intersection of Franklin and Patterson streets.

One vista, north along Franklin Street, encompasses the completed Franklin Streetscape project with its buried power lines, decorative lighting and poles and landscaped medians.

The other view, Paino told the Kirksville City Council Monday, is of Patterson Street, with its smaller lanes, lack of bicycle routes and, in places, patchwork sidewalks.

Patterson Street and the primary entrances to Truman State University were topics of discussion during a joint regular meeting of Truman State officials and the Kirksville City Council Monday on campus.

Paino said the university is seeking improvements to Patterson Street, from Baltimore to the campus, and its Normal and Franklin street entrance routes.

“Those really are the gateways to campus,” he said.

Pointing to holistic improvements made to Franklin Street, which bisects campus and serves as the primary north-south route into the university and onward to the downtown, Paino said Truman State is working to expand sidewalks and beautify streets to improve the campus’ image for prospective students and visitors.

“Now with Franklin Street finished, [work on Patterson] is much more obviously necessary,” Paino said.

The Council met with Paino and Dave Rector, vice president of administration and finance, for their regular joint session meeting and discussed mostly infrastructure-related needs.

Paino also asked the Council if the university could help with any city efforts or needs, with Council member Bob Russell imploring partnership and support for local businesses.

“We need to figure out a way to keep doors open,” he said, “and to help out these small businesses.”

Paino and Rector shared details from the university’s 10-year master plan, which also directs future efforts toward establishing a more definite campus border and identifying where the campus starts.

“These [master] plans make a difference,” Paino said. “And they set the tone for where a campus will go.”

Both parties also expressed interest in supporting and expanding Kirksville’s middle class, with more solid incomes helping both the university and city economies.

Paino said the university is increasing its summer programs and camps to both drive more traffic during the slower summer months, but also with a keen eye toward helping the Kirksville economy.

But still, he said, the university has been hurt in recent years with budget cuts and withholdings out of Jefferson City.

He referenced a need for at least $17 million in improvements to Baldwin and McClain halls on campus.

“That’s the kind of money we really need and the state isn’t giving it to us,” he said.